Cathy Masamitsu is a television producer and reporter who has made remarkable contributions to the war
against breast cancer.
At age 36, Cathy was diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer.
At that time, she was a member of the production staff of ABC-TV's popular daytime program, HOME. Only days before her surgery, Cathy challenged HOME's producers to document her story and share her battle with cancer with the show's national
viewing audience.
"It was difficult to open my life to television cameras and probing
interviews about something as personal as losing a breast to cancer. But, I knew that the television program could give information
and hope to millions of people. As I faced the reality of losing my breast, I realized that I wished someone else had made
a video for me to see -- to show me what to expect -- to remind me I wasn't the only one going through this. I decided
to share my story, because I believe as a Christian we have an obligation to help one another."
Cathy's triumph over breast cancer aired on HOME in November 1989. The celebrated television series has received several coveted national
awards for excellence in journalism and public education, including the SUSAN G. KOMEN AWARD for Excellence in Media. Even
now (20+ years later) she still receives requests for the 90-minute documentary, the DVD remains available at no cost, as
a public service.
To
request by email a free copy of the DVD, click on the email address at the bottom of this page.
Tens of thousands of copies of Cathy's videotape have been distributed nationwide. Cathy is especially
pleased that the video includes a how-to demonstration of breast self-examination, a lifesaving skill she firmly believes
all women must learn and practice monthly. Cathy credits regular mammograms and breast self-examination with saving her life.
For her efforts in the fight against breast cancer, Cathy has also been honored by the California
Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and awarded membership in the prestigious Society of Kentucky Colonels by the governor of Kentucky for her humanitarian
efforts.
Cathy has made many appearances on local, national and cable television programs, including ABC's NIGHTLINE.
She has traveled to Europe and the Far East as a television reporter, covering stories on breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment.
Cathy's focus has extended into the political realm, and she has addressed local, state, and national legislators. Cathy was
a presenter at a state conference organized by the Lieutenant Governor: "The Future of Breast Cancer Care in California."
She was a delegate to the President's CONFERENCE TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON BREAST CANCER which convened
at the National Institutes of Health and was hosted by then Health and Human Resources Secretary Donna E. Shalala.
Cathy is a graduate of PROJECT LEAD, an innovative education program sponsored by the National Breast Cancer
Coalition. PROJECT LEAD provides intensive training for breast cancer survivors in advocacy skills and basic science, enabling
survivors themselves to partner with the scientific community in finding a cause and cure for breast cancer. Cathy served
as an Advocate Observer on a scientific review panel for grant proposals for the University of Californias Breast Cancer Research
Program.
Cathy is a co-author of a remarkable book: BREAST CANCER?
LET ME CHECK MY SCHEDULE! (Harper Collins Westview Press) Cathy and nine other professional women, (all
breast cancer veterans) co-authored this empowering book as a labor of love, with all authors' proceeds directed to breast
cancer education and advocacy groups. Cathy's book opens with a poignant and heartwarming foreword by the late Erma
Bombeck.
Cathy served for many years on the Board of Directors of INTERNATIONAL
AID, a mission-support organization providing emergency relief, medical programs and mission assistance in to thousands
around the globe. http://www.internationalaid.org)
Cathy makes frequent personal appearances across the country as
a speaker for the American Cancer Society and other organizations. She is an active member of the Speakers Bureau for The
National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation and is also an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian church.
Cathy is particularly enthusiastic about her most physically challenging
undertaking in the war against breast cancer: on August 22, 2000, Cathy climbed to the summit of Mt. Fuji, Japan as part of
the U.S. team for CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS, a 2-day mountain climb involving 500 participants in Japan's first trulyinternational
cancer fund-and-awareness-raising event. CLIMB AGAINST THE ODDS was organized by The Breast Cancer Fund and raised over a
half million dollars for breast cancer research.
